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Finding the right vacuum can make the constant battle against dirt and debris a whole lot easier and help keep not just your floors clean, but your air, too. But there's no one-size-fits-all solution: someone in a small apartment may need something entirely different than a family in a 2,500-square-foot home with kids and pets.
To help you find your perfect cleaning companion, we've purchased over 250 vacuum cleaners of all types and put each one through rigorous testing. We logged how well they clean different floor types, how much dust they capture versus release back into the air, and how easy they are to use. Our goal is to give you a comprehensive review with real solutions, no matter what kind of vacuum you're looking for.
The best vacuum for most people is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless vacuum. It's cordless, giving you the freedom to clean quickly and easily, without sacrificing cleaning performance.
For deep cleaning, we recommend the Shark Stratos—it delivers top-tier results on both carpets and hard floors, while its HEPA filter keeps dust and allergens from re-entering your air. For a more affordable option that still impressed in our cleaning tests, check out the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse.
Editor's Note: We're at it again with another update on June 27, 2025. This time, we have new winners from our cordless stick vacuum review, the Shark PowerDetect and Smoture.
Who It's Best For: For anyone who wants the best of both worlds, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless provides impressive cleaning power while remaining light and easy to use. Its cordless design means you can just grab and go—no cords to untangle, no outlets to track down. And with the ability to reach spots traditional vacuums usually struggle with—like stairs, under furniture, and even out in the car—it offers more than just convenience, it's a versatile cleaner for your whole home, and then some.
Why We Love It: Once you use a cordless vacuum, you won't want to go back to a bulky upright or canister. The freedom from the cord and slim design is such a contrast to the clunky models we're used to; we couldn't believe how quickly we finished our chores. This model builds on that user-friendliness with thoughtful touches that make cleaning even simpler. A hinged wand helps you reach under furniture without bending. “It honestly saved my back,” said our lead tester, Rachael. It still has a small dustbin, but it empties into a larger base station, which keeps everything contained and cuts down on how often you have to deal with a cloud of dust when dumping out.
Should You Buy It? If you're mainly battling fine debris or dirt that settles deep into carpets, or you're after a more intensive clean, its lower suction might not cut it. There's also the inevitable limitation of battery life; it runs short, which means you may need to clean in segments if you have a larger home, something that could be frustrating for some. While this vacuum falls into the mid-range price bracket for cordless models, it still costs more than corded vacuums, which often deliver stronger suction and come with more attachments. Still, it's capable of handling most everyday messes and pays off in the long run thanks to how easy it is to use and how quickly you can get through your cleaning routine.
Who It's Best For: If you want the freedom of a cordless vacuum without investing your whole paycheck, the Smoture VAC01 stands out among the budget options. It's perfect if you live in an apartment, a dorm, or just have a smaller place with mostly hard floors or low-pile carpet. Its thin design and low-maintenance upkeep make it great for those who want vacuuming to be easier. While it may not be ideal for shag carpets or homes with pets, it's a great choice if you're curious about stick vacuums and don't want to fully commit just yet.
Why We Love It: It shines on hard surfaces, cleaning nearly perfectly in most of our cleaning trials. We were surprised by how the vacuum head grips onto carpet, helping it pick up larger crumbs and spills and leaving our carpets looking refreshed. We also appreciate the large dustbin; it lets us vacuum the house without needing to stop and empty it, unlike many other slim stick vacuums. “It's easy to pick up and carry upstairs, too,” noted another tester, just one more perk of a cordless stick vacuum.
Should You Buy It? It doesn't deliver the same powerful suction as higher-end models, so you'll likely need to make a few extra passes. Like many budget vacuums, it struggles with shag or thicker rugs and has a tough time pulling out embedded pet hair—areas where similarly priced corded models tend to perform better. Still, while the limited suction makes it less ideal as your main vacuum, it's a solid choice for routine touch-ups and everyday messes. For the price, you're getting a lot of practical value and ease of use.
Who It's Best For: The Shark Stratos is best for households that need a vacuum built for deep, thorough cleaning, especially in larger homes with a mix of floor types. This upright is great for high-traffic areas and homes with pets. Plus, its strong filtration makes it a good choice for anyone with allergies or asthma.
Why We Love It: During testing, this vacuum impressed us with its strong cleaning across all surfaces, especially hardwood, where it often cleared debris in just a single pass. The HEPA filter works wonders, reducing more harmful particles in the air than any other vacuum we tested. “While I know it can't match the agility of a stick vacuum,” noted one of our testers, “it stands out among other uprights thanks to its smooth glide, tight swivel steering, and rollers that I felt nearly propel it forward.” The detachable canister added welcome versatility for me as I was actually able to clean under furniture, as many uprights simply cannot.
Should You Buy It? If your home demands powerful, whole-house cleaning and you don't mind a larger machine, this vacuum delivers excellent value. It's not ideal for plush rugs, where it needs multiple passes, and the fixed brush roller makes clearing tangled hair more frustrating. If you've got a ton of thick carpet, the Kenmore Intuition is a standout amongst ALL vacuums for its ability to clean not only conventional carpet, but rugs too. But for mixed flooring and homes that need serious cleaning power, the Stratos stands out for its cleaning performance and surprising ease of use.
There are so many things to love about this vacuum: superior filtration, great roller head design, and this Lift-Away feature makes it actually possible to clean under your furniture.
Who It's Best For: For those looking to spend less without giving up cleaning performance, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse is a top budget pick out of all vacuums we have tested. At around $200, this vacuum is great for anyone who wants a smaller, compact upright. While it skips the bells and whistles of high-end models, if you simply want a vacuum with the best overall performance for the price, this is it.
Why We Love It: This vacuum stood out in testing for its ability to handle everything from fine dirt to large debris like cereal—something many budget vacuums struggle with. Instead of pushing messes around, the vacuum head uses wide openings to let larger debris reach the brush roller, while at the other end of the spectrum, the bristles help loosen and lift difficult material like sand. This successful design gave it better overall cleaning performance than most uprights in its class, including “surprisingly effective pickup on shag carpet—a surface where I find many vacuums fall short,” noted our lead tester, Rachael.
Should You Buy It? The impressive value comes with a few compromises. It doesn't steer as smoothly as higher-end uprights, and it lacks the sleek look and durable feel of more premium models. One of its standout features is a rail that allows the canister to slide up and down for better access under furniture, but it felt a bit underwhelming and finicky in practice. We recommend this model to friends who don't care about the premium extras and just want a reliable cleaner at an affordable price. That simple.
Who It Is Best For: The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Powerline is great for those who want powerful cleaning. If you don't mind pulling a canister behind you in exchange for better reach, lighter handling at the wand, and a large dust bag, this product delivers one of the best overall cleaning experiences I've seen in a canister vacuum and makes the most sense for homes with lots of hard flooring.
Why We Love It: It delivered the strongest suction we've ever measured in our lab, making it a standout among all vacuum types. That power translated to excellent hard floor performance, with visible results after just one pass. Its oversized 4.5-liter bag held far more than most, “meaning I needed fewer emptying trips—and because it's a bagged model, there were no clouds of dust to deal with!” exclaimed one of our testers who is sensitive to dust. While pulling the canister took me a while to get used to, the lightweight wand was a perk compared to an upright, giving me the ability to clean under and on top of furniture easily.
Should You Buy It? Carpet performance isn't its strong suit, largely because it lacks a motorized roller to help agitate fibers of the carpet, so fine debris like rice or sand takes a few extra passes to fully lift. It also lacks onboard storage for attachments, and the cost of replacement bags can add up. But if you're looking for something built to last, easy to maintain, and serious suction power, this vacuum provides a niche need for homes with mostly flooring.
Who It Is Best For: If you're managing a busy household where crumbs, dirt, and pet hair seem to reappear the moment you clean them, the Roborock Q5 Max+ can seriously lighten the load. It's all about keeping your floors in check day after day, so those big cleanups don't feel so overwhelming. It's also one of the more affordable models we've tested that you can actually rely on, not just to clean well, but to do it without constantly getting stuck or needing your help. A great fit for families, pet owners, or anyone who wants to stay ahead of daily messes without constantly worrying about them.
Why We Love It: It topped our cleaning performance charts, picking up more debris overall than any other robot we tested. While it easily handles big, visible messes and leaves your floors looking clean, we were even more impressed by how much embedded dirt and dander it pulled from carpets up close. You don't have to empty the vacuum after every run either, thanks to the auto-empty dock, which cuts down how often you need to deal with cleanup. And while other apps glitched or dropped connections, the Roborock app stayed smooth and responsive, something we really appreciated after how frustrating the others could be to use.
Should You Buy It? This vacuum isn't the smartest out there; it doesn't have advanced sensors or cameras, so it can miss smaller items like socks or cords left on the floor. Every now and then, you might find it stuck and asking for help, which can leave the cleaning job unfinished. It also doesn't include a mop, which is becoming more common as companies roll out hybrid models. That said, in our experience, vacuuming performance often takes a hit on those mop-vac combos. With a typical sale price around $400, it's not exactly cheap, but it's still one of the more affordable robot vacuums you can count on. Ultimately, it comes down to how much you value convenience, but if you're ready to take the leap into the world of automated cleaning, this is the vacuum we'd recommend for most homes.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ constantly impressed us during our testing over the months. It cleaned pet fur and deeply embedded dirt, an impressive feat for such a small vacuum.
Who It Is Best For: If you're just starting to dip your toes into the world of robot vacuums and don't want to mess with apps, learning curves, or simply can't afford the staggering price tags, the Eufy 11S Max is a great way in. It's especially helpful for smaller homes or apartments that get dusty quickly, or for people who just want to space out deep cleans with a helper. It does the basics, scoops up daily crumbs, pet fur, and dirt, and does them better than most vacuums in its price range. Just be prepared to tidy up a bit beforehand; it needs a relatively clear path to do its thing.
Why We Love It: This little robot impressed us with how much it could clean, especially considering its simple design. On hard floors, it handled everything from fine dust to larger bits like rice and cereal without issue. Carpet performance was better than expected too—especially given the lack of smart mapping. It doesn't follow a perfect path, but with enough time, it covers the space well and leaves floors looking noticeably cleaner. It even hugged walls and edges better than some pricier models, thanks to a hardworking edge brush. For daily upkeep between deeper cleans, it's a solid and dependable performer.
Should You Buy It? If you're okay with keeping things simple and doing a little extra prep, the Eufy 11S Max can be a great cleaning sidekick. Just know it comes with some trade-offs. Without a self-emptying dock, you'll need to empty the dustbin yourself after every few runs. And since it doesn't have smart sensors or object detection, it gets tripped up by socks, toys, flip flops—pretty much anything left on the floor. That means you'll want to do a thorough cleanup before you set it loose, or be ready to rescue it mid-clean, which gets old fast. But if you're willing to work with its limitations, it's one of the better budget models out there for keeping floors looking decent between your deep cleans.
Measured Robot Height: 2.9" | Robot Noise Level: 51.3 dB
Who It's Best For: Handheld vacuums shine when you need a compact, quick-reach solution—and the Black+Decker Furbuster AdvanceClean+ is a top contender in this category. If your main vacuum struggles to reach into car crevices, stairs, or windowsills, this model fills that gap with power and portability. It's particularly useful for pet owners and parents dealing with constant spot messes, especially when hauling out a full-size vacuum feels like overkill.
Why We Love It: “Its strong suction and motorized brush tool gave it a clear edge over other handhelds in my testing,” noted Rachael, our lead tester for this vacuum category, “especially when tackling fur and stubborn debris.” The integrated crevice tool made it easy to reach into tight corners, and the relatively large bin emptied cleanly with a single button press—a similar design to stick vacuums and an upgrade compared to so many awkward bin designs of other handhelds.
Should You Buy It? It won't replace a full-size vacuum—and it's not meant to—but its solid cleaning power, versatile attachments, and user-friendly design make it more than just a convenience tool. “The battery limits long sessions, and the frame's a bit bulkier than ideal,” noted another tester, “but in practice, I rarely felt held back.” It also costs far less than stepping up to a full cordless stick, making it a smart supplement if you already have a reliable primary vacuum. If your routine is missing a targeted spot cleaner, this one's an easy add that's worth it.
Who It's Best For: The Milwaukee M18 0880-20 is a great fit for contractors, DIYers, or anyone needing a rugged, no-fuss shop vac that handles ANY wet or dry mess. It's especially useful for jobsites, garages, or workshop spaces where cleanup includes a mix of soaked carpets, sawdust, and heavy debris. If you want a vacuum that doesn't need to be babied and can tackle a wide range of messes, this one delivers—without the bulk of traditional rolling shop vacs.
Why We Love It: Its compact, toolbox-style design makes transport and storage easier than most shop vacs, and the onboard hose routing is a standout feature. As our lead tester, Austin Palmer, noted, “The hose routing runs straight into the can—a far better design than the clog-prone elbow I tested on other models.” Add to that the integrated self-retracting hose and onboard tool storage, and you've got a smart, streamlined machine that was well thought out.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for a powerful, portable vacuum that skips the bells and whistles in favor of strong performance and solid design, this shop vac is worth the price. That said, its runtime is shorter than average, and it struggled with standing water due to a less-than-ideal floor attachment, not a lack of power. It's heavier than I thought, especially since I needed to lift it rather than roll it around my garage. Still, its 91-inch hose offsets that somewhat by minimizing how often you need to move it.
Once you go beyond simple messes around the house or need a reliable vacuum to handle tough debris in the workshop, reach for the M18. It can handle the worst of the worst.
Performance Across Floor Types
Our reviews evaluate each of the typical surface types found in homes: low pile, hile pile (rugs or shag carpet), and hardwood. This selection of top performers below, spanning diverse vacuum types, allows for a direct comparison of their cleaning performance, irrespective of their category.
Cleaning Performance Across Floor Types
Product
Low Pile
High Pile
Hardwood
Kenmore Intuition Upright
97
73
84
Eureka OmniVerse Upright
92
65
94
Shark Stratos Upright
97
52
97
Miele Classic C1 Canister
91
54
100
Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight
90
56
96
Dyson V15 Detect
94
49
97
Eureka Mighty Mite Canister
88
49
99
Samsung Bespoke Jet
94
47
95
Shark Rotator
88
50
94
Smoture VAC01
87
42
85
While our top picks, as noted above, reflect overall performance, including ease of use, pet hair, filtration, and value, this next group of award winners is all about raw cleaning power. These vacuums rose to the top in our toughest cleaning tests, proving they can handle the messiest floors with the fewest passes. If deep cleaning is your top priority, start here.
Who It's Best For: If your home is full of thick carpets and area rugs, the Kenmore Intuition 3-in-1 is one of the best-performing vacuums we've ever tested. This model topped our carpet tests—especially on high-pile rugs, where many vacuums struggled. It's a strong choice for users who prioritize deep carpet cleaning above all else and don't mind managing a bagged system to get top-tier results.
Why We Love It: Despite average suction on paper, it managed to pick up deeply embedded debris like rice and sand, thanks to its vacuum head design and long-bristled roller. It also handled larger debris without pushing it forward, which is a common issue in other uprights. The vacuum was easy to maneuver for its size, and the generously sized dust bag meant fewer interruptions during cleaning.
Should You Buy It? If carpet is your top priority, this upright is your best bet, and a strong value, making it an easy recommendation. It's not the best fit for homes with pets, where it struggled with fur pickup, or for hard floors, where it occasionally left debris behind. While the need to replace bags adds some long-term cost, the benefit is a cleaner disposal process. Its design may feel a bit old-school, and maneuverability declines as the bag gets filled, but if your main goal is tackling thick carpet, nothing in our testing performed better.
Who It's Best For: If your home is mostly bare floors, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a smart, affordable pick. Since bare floors don't require as much suction or agitation as carpets, I find this vacuum's simple design works remarkably well. In our canister vacuum review, it stood out for delivering strong cleaning results without the need for a powerful motor or premium price tag.
Why We Love It: The Mighty Mite picked up 99% of debris in our hard floor tests, effortlessly handling large particles and stuck-on dirt. Its stiff bristles and wide opening make quick work of messes. Unlike most vacuums that clean best when pushed forward, this one picks up more effectively when pulled back. “It felt a little odd at first, but I got used to it quickly,” noted our lead tester, Lesley. The foot-activated bristle control makes it easy to switch between surfaces without stopping, but one of the best things about this vacuum is how lightweight and compact it is. I found it much easier to store and maneuver than bulkier canister models.
Should You Buy It? If you mostly need a vacuum for bare floors and don't want to overspend, the Eureka Mighty Mite is a great value. It's not built for carpets—there's no brush roller, and the wand can loosen occasionally—but for everyday messes on hard surfaces, it offers efficient, reliable performance under $100.
The Mighty Mite is small, but certainly mighty with its effective cleaning power on hard surfaces and pet fur. We also like that it's not as bulky and heavy as a conventional canister.
Who It's Best For: At one end is the no-frills Eureka Mighty Mite; at the other, the Dyson V15 Detect offers the ultimate luxurious package for your hard surface cleaning needs. This vacuum is for the person who wants it all. It's got all the bells and whistles like adjustable cleaning suction, specialized floor heads, and a slew of attachments that someone would want from a premium price tag, making it a vacuum that will help you out, and honestly, fun to use.
Why We Love It: One of the coolest features I've seen recently in vacuum testing is the laser head on this vacuum. “Designed specifically for hard surfaces, it lights up the floor, revealing tiny dust particles I didn't even know existed,” noted one of our vacuum specialists. “This helped me spot and target the areas that needed attention the most.” It's also surprisingly powerful for a stick vacuum, too. Most of the time, one pass was enough to get the job done, and the soft, fluffy brush left the floors looking polished and super clean.
Should You Buy It? The biggest drawback to this product is the high price tag. If you don't mind investing in this product, it's nice to know that it also vacuums carpet well. Because the motor is large for a stick vacuum and there's a trigger you need to hold, it can feel fatiguing to use just after a short time. However, this vacuum cleans efficiently—most of the time, I only needed one pass on hard surfaces, which really cuts down how long I have to spend using it. Ultimately, I love this vacuum and full-heartedly recommend it for most flooring, especially bare floors that need constant cleaning, as long as you're okay with the investment.
The laser on the side of the vacuum head highlights dirt so you know exactly where to focus, making it much easier to get your floors truly spotless.
Say Goodbye to Pet Hair
As pet owners, we know the struggle of dealing with the endless shedding of our furry family members. To fight back against pet hair, your best bet is a vacuum with a brush head featuring stiff bristles that can grab those stubborn strands, combined with strong suction to lift clumps of hair. Bonus points if the hair doesn't get tangled in the bristles or stuck in the roller.
We use an overflowing handful of real fur (some from our helpers above) to conduct our pet hair tests. We massage every strand into carpets to replicate what many pet owners see in their homes on a daily basis.
Who It's Best For: If you're dealing with pet hair across floors, furniture, and stairs, the Shark Rotator LA502 is a versatile upright vacuum that's especially well-suited for pet owners. It stood out not just for its excellent carpet cleaning, but for its ability to handle fur throughout the home—something many vacuums struggle to do well. It's ideal for users who want strong, consistent performance, with uninterrupted power and a large dustbin—built to work through every room and capture every last strand of pet hair.
Why We Love It: This model includes a motorized brush attachment and a detachable base, making it easier to clean pet beds, stairs, and upholstery—areas where fur tends to collect. While I like cordless stick or handheld vacuums for these tight spaces, they come with limitations in battery life and dustbin size. The Rotator offers a more robust alternative, delivering powerful suction, larger capacity, and better runtime for deeper cleaning sessions—the kind most of us rely on when tackling the messes our furry friends leave behind.
Should You Buy It? If you're looking for one vacuum that can handle pet hair on carpets, hard floors, and furniture, this vacuum delivers excellent value. It's not without a few drawbacks—its canister mode doesn't power the main floor head, so you'll need to stick to the attachment provided, and some fine debris like sand remained on the filter during testing—but those are minor compromises for a machine this capable. For pet owners tired of underpowered vacuums that leave strands of fur everywhere, this compact yet powerful model offers a whole-home solution.
Pet owners will rejoice at seeing the Rotator's ability to suck up fur. This vacuum performed exceptionally well on low-pile carpets and upholstery, surpassing others in our testing.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Breath Easy: Understanding Vacuum Filtration
Dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens can accumulate on floors and furniture, exacerbating respiratory issues for allergy-prone individuals. A high-quality filtration system guarantees that these particles are captured and sealed within the vacuum, improving air quality and reducing allergic reactions. Due to the health implications of vacuum filtration, we created a new test metric to assess filter efficacy.
We place a third of a cup of flour on the floor and vacuum it up while these two meters measure how much fine dust gets released into the air - giving us a clear idea of how well each vacuum contains our mess.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
During filtration testing, we track the amount of small airborne particles (ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 microns), as these are especially harmful to humans—they can bypass the respiratory system's defenses and reach deep into the lungs, even entering the bloodstream. Generally, the lower the count, the better. As a reference, Dylos, a specialist in air quality monitoring, refers to readings of 75 count or lower as excellent air quality and at the end of the other spectrum, any reading over 3,000 particles as very poor.
Filtration Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Average Particle Count
HEPA
Filtration Score
Shark Stratos
Upright
9
Excellent
Eureka QuickShift
Upright
15
Excellent
Shark Rotator
Upright
18
Excellent
Kenmore Intuition
Upright
26
Excellent
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Cordless Stick
41
Excellent
Shark PowerDetect
Cordless Stick
49
Excellent
Dyson V15 Detect
Cordless Stick
55
Excellent
Miele Classic C1
Canister
57
Excellent
Smoture VAC01
Cordless Stick
129
Very Good
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
335
✖
Fair
Most vacuums do a great job to contain the debris they suck up. However, broad trends show that some budget options are prone to leakages, causing a spike in particulate counts and raising concerns that you should be aware of. We have noted some of our favorite vacuums to compare against the poor contenders mentioned above. Each canister, cordless stick, and upright vacuum is tested in our lab, with results shared on the product's review page and compared against others in its category within our best-in-class review. To learn more information on our new testing, head to our article on how we test each vacuum.
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are often marketed as the gold standard, but they're not the only path to top-tier filtration. While HEPA certification does guarantee strong performance, some proprietary systems can match—or even outperform it. For instance, the Levoit cordless vacuum uses an impressive multi-stage filtration setup that recorded particle levels lower than some HEPA models in our testing.
And it's not just about the filter itself—factors like the quality of seals, the number of filters, and how they're arranged all play a big role in how well a vacuum traps pollutants. Vacuuming is also just the first part of the process; don't forget about dumping the bin and maintenance.
Who It Is Best For: The Samsung Bespoke Jet is ideal for anyone who wants a vacuum that keeps things cleaner—not just on the floor, but throughout the entire cleaning process. It's a great match for allergy sufferers or anyone who's tired of dealing with the mess and dust clouds that come with emptying traditional vacuums. If your home has mostly hard floors or low-pile carpet and you want a low-maintenance, hygienic cleaning routine from start to finish, this vacuum fits the bill.
Why We Love It: What makes this vacuum stand out is its focus on cleanliness throughout the entire process—not just while vacuuming, but during emptying, too. Its self-emptying station transfers debris into a sealed bag at the push of a button, keeping dust and allergens contained. As one tester put it, “The bag can be easily removed and discarded, avoiding the typical plume of dust that explodes when I empty a bagless canister.” It's a thoughtful system that made the vacuum feel more hygienic and hassle-free in day-to-day use.
Should You Buy It? It's pricier than most cordless models, and you'll need to replace the dust bags occasionally. The dock also takes up more space than a standard charging station, and we would've preferred a larger dust bag to cut down on trips to the trash. It also struggled a bit with pet hair on thicker rugs, though its strong suction helps lift stubborn debris—it just takes a few extra passes. Ultimately, your home should be a safe space with clean air—and the Bespoke Jet is a tool that helps make that possible.
There's nothing more rewarding than pushing the button on the Samsung station and seeing the dust and dirt drop from the stick dust bin without having to touch it.
What About Suction Power?
Suction power plays an important role in how well a vacuum removes dirt, allergens, and debris—especially from carpets—but it's not the only factor. Filtration, brush design, and how well the vacuum seals to the floor also impact overall cleaning performance. And while cordless stick vacuums were once seen as underpowered, many modern models now come surprisingly close to matching the suction of traditional vacuums.
Suction Power Across Different Vacuum Types
Type
Output
Miele Classic C1
Canister
3957 pascals
Dyson V15 Detect
Cordless Stick
2239 pascals
Eureka Mighty Mite
Canister
1767 pascals
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Cordless Stick
1194 pascals
Shark Rotator
Upright
572 pascals
Shark Stratos
Upright
547 pascals
Eureka QuickShift
Upright
398 pascals
Shark PowerDetect
Cordless Stick
373 pascals
Smoture VAC01
Cordless Stick
249 pascals
Kenmore Intuition
Upright
174 pascals
Our testing shows suction power varies more by brand than vacuum type, with premium models like Miele and Dyson reaching thousands of pascals, far above budget models that barely top 200. Higher suction can sometimes make a vacuum harder to push or steer, especially on carpet. If that's a concern, look for models with adjustable suction or height settings to help balance cleaning power with maneuverability.
We constructed a new testing platform to measure the suction power for all vacuums. A differential pressure meter connected by a hose is positioned on the underside of a small hole in the middle of the platform. Measurement units are taken in inches of water that we've converted to pascals to compare vacuum results better.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Makes a Vacuum a Good Value?
Beyond the price tag, the real value of a vacuum comes from how well it fits into your routine, making cleaning faster, easier, and less of a hassle.
Lightweight & Maneuverable: Vacuums that are easy to move reduce fatigue and make cleaning less of a chore.
Versatility Saves Time: Models that adapt—like stick vacuums that convert to handhelds or uprights with extended reach—can eliminate the need for extra tools.
Attachments Expand Use: Extra tools help you clean more than just floors, making the vacuum more useful throughout the home. Look at the whole package when you're about to purchase as these little extras can go a long way.
Maintenance Adds Up: Bagless vacuums save money over time but can be messier to empty versus bagged models are cleaner but require ongoing bag purchases. Washable filters reduce the cost of replacements and are more budget-friendly in the long term.
It's more than the price tag. When you factor in usability, adaptability, and upkeep, the best-value vacuum isn't just the cheapest—it's the one that makes your life easier day to day.
Beyond cleaning performance, there are many important factors to help solidify your vacuum selection.
Why You Should Trust Our Team
I'm Jessica Riconscente, GearLab's Vacuum Editor. I've tested every vacuum category, logging hundreds of hours in the lab cleaning up carefully measured messes. There's no category I rely on more than vacuums; I count on my own lineup daily to tackle relentless dog hair and the dirt I drag in from my outdoor adventures.
I'm joined by our Senior Review Analyst, Austin Palmer. He has been at the forefront of vacuum testing from our humble beginnings nearly a decade ago. He is our most experienced tester at GearLab, having tested more than 100 categories and knows vacuums inside and out, especially with two kids at home putting them to the test daily. His sharp eye helps us spot real performance, whether in the lab or mid–cereal spill.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Review Analyst, Rachael Lamore is the mastermind behind our new testing protocols. She has been working hard to provide numbers for all our testing to give a clean comparison of performances. Her technical background working in laboratories helped garner a systematic approach to our testing in our in-house facility. Her strong attention to detail ensures each and every product is held to the same standard.
In the past few years, our team has completely updated our vacuum testing—from top to bottom—to give you the clearest, most accurate reviews possible.
Our New Testing Process
In this updated review, we've introduced a more in-depth testing process across all vacuum categories to give you clearer, more accurate comparisons. New tests focus on key performance areas like filtration—measuring how well each vacuum contains fine particles—and suction power, giving insight into how efficiently they lift debris. We also now record the percentage of debris each vacuum picks up during cleaning tests, allowing us to directly compare results across models. These improvements help ensure our recommendations are based on real-world performance, not just features on paper.
We tally more than 25 individual tests for each product we test in vacuum categories.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Alongside our objective measurements, like battery life, noise level, and weight, we also spend time observing how each vacuum performs in real use. We look at things like how easy it is to maneuver around furniture, how smoothly it transitions between surfaces, and how simple it is to empty or maintain. This mix of hands-on experience and data-driven testing gives a well-rounded view of each vacuum—highlighting not just how powerful it is, but how it actually feels and functions in everyday cleaning.
We begin by identifying the most common cleaning challenges in real homes, then design a thorough review process to see how well each vacuum tackles those issues.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
When it comes to buying vacuums, it's important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, especially if your home features a variety of surfaces and cleaning needs. While some vacuums excel in specific tasks, such as deep carpet cleaning or quick daily sweeps, others are designed for specialized jobs like cleaning up wet messes or tackling pet hair. In many cases, having an arsenal of vacuums can be the most effective approach to staying fully equipped for any situation.
There's plenty to choose from our lineup!
Credit: Abriah Wofford
—Jessica Riconscente, Rachael Lamore, and Austin Palmer
